"A kingdom of southwest Europe, Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Portugal, Gibraltar, and Andorra. Spain consists of a vast plateau that slopes toward the southwest and is crossed by several mountain ranges. The Mediterranean Balearic Islands, the Atlantic Canary Islands, and Ceuta and Melilla, two enclaves in Morocco, together with a few islands, are also included in the territory. Spains economy is based on tourism...

"Denmark is a kingdom of northwest Europe bordering the North and Baltic Seas. It occupies the northern two-thirds of the Jutland Peninsula, together with the islands lying between the peninsula and Sweden. During World War II, Denmark was invaded by Germany, but offered strong resistance throughout the occupation. Denmark joined NATO in 1949 and in 1973, together with Britain, entered the EU. Today, Denmark is a prosperous, progressive, and thoroughly...

"A country of southern Europe, Italy borders France to the west, Switzerland and Austria to the north, and Slovenia to the northeast. Italy has always been the driving force behind the cultural and social life of the Mediterranean, having been home to some of its most important civilizations. Italy has its problems, however; namely, the gap between the prosperous, industrial north and the poorer, agricultural south. There have also been the activities...

"France, one of the most important countries in Europe, encompasses medieval cities, alpine villages, and Mediterranean beaches. Paris, its capital, is famed for its fashion houses, classical art museums, and monuments like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. France is also famous for its wines and superior cuisine. Lascauxs ancient cave drawings, Lyons Roman theater, and the vast Palace of Versailles attest to its rich history. As one of the...

"A kingdom of Western Europe, bounded to the north and west by the North Sea, to the south by Belgium, and to the east by Germany. The Netherlands (also known as Holland), with Belgium and Luxembourg, make up what are known as the Low Countries. Strictly speaking, however, the name Holland belongs only to the two coastal provinces of North and South Holland. The plural Netherlands, used in English, is a legacy of the past, since the Dutch themselves...

"A country that occupies the western part of the Iberian peninsula in southwest Europe, Portugal borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, and Spain to the east and north. It also includes two Atlantic archipelagos, the Azores and Madeira, that occupy strategic points along the approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar. The overseas territory of Macao (Macau) was returned to China in 1999. Portugal has developed a diverse and increasingly service-oriented...

"The island of Ireland lies to the west of England and Wales and faces them across the Irish Sea. About 80 percent of the total area of the island is occupied by the Republic of Ireland (usually referred to simply as Ireland), which is divided up into 26 counties. Ireland consists of a central lowland area traversed by rivers, such as the Shannon, and with large areas of peat bog, an important source of fuel. The bogs are interspersed by areas of...

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK), is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is an island nation in northwestern Europe. England is an important tourist destination and home to the site of Neolithic Stonehenge, Bath's Roman spa, and centuries-old universities at Oxford and Cambridge. The UK's economy is one of the strongest in Europe, with many important industries,...